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Native Plants Promote

Better Ground

Native plants are species that originated or evolved in the soils, topography, and climate of western Washington, rather than being introduced to the landscape by humans. 

Native plants have many advantages, including better immune systems to fend off pests and disease, and adaptability to our wet winters and dry summers. Native plants need less water than non-natives, and are more commonly used as food and shelter by wildlife. 

Using native plants on your property is a best management practice for resource conservation. They can improve our water quality, reduce soil and wind erosion, clean the air, reduce energy costs, attract and support local wildlife, and beautify property.  
 
With so many benefits to using native plants, we bet you can't wait to get your hands on some. You're in luck! We hold an annual native plant sale, with pre-ordering beginning in November and pick-up in late February. Our sale is over for the season, but sign up for our email list to be the first to hear when our store front opens in November.

Why do we  hold our plant sale during the wintertime? The answer in two words: bare root. Bare root plants are the most affordable way to spread natives, and winter is bare root season. You can safely transport bare roots in cool conditions and plant anytime the ground isn’t frozen. 

We want to make native plants available to our island landowners at an affordable price, encouraging responsible land and resource stewardship. Selling native plants is not a money-making project for the District, and any profits from the sale go right back in to educational programs on resource conservation. It’s all about spreading native plants for Better Ground! 

Be sure to check out the "Native Plant Resources" list in the drop-down menu on this page. We did the research, so you don't have to, and there are a lot of great resources on a variety of native plant uses in this section.

If you have additional questions or would like help with a native plant conservation project, fill out the form below or contact us at the office (360) 678-4708.

Ready to get started?

WICD's Natural Resource Planners provide no-cost technical assistance for all Whidbey Island residents and landowners.
Do you need assistance on your property with a natural resource challenge or goal?

Please note that we are currently undergoing some staff transitions, so may have a few weeks delay in responding to your request. We appreciate your understanding and patience in this matter, and encourage you to explore the resources on our website in the interim
Request Assistance
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NATIVE PLANT SALE, QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, VOLUNTEERING, JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS & MORE!
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Common camas (camassia quamash spp.)

Native Plant Resources

Click a Tab Below for More Resources:
native plant online store
The 2020-2021 Native Plant Sale is now complete. Check back in November 2021 for the start of our next pre-order!

How Does WICD's Native Plant Pre-Sale Ordering & ​Open Sale Process Work?


From November through December or January of each year, we accept pre-orders against our native plant inventory. Individuals who sign-up to be on our Native Plant Email List are the first to receive notice of when our online storefront is open and taking orders. We also promote the sale through community bulletins, in the newspaper, and other outreach avenues to help spread the word. We reserve this plant inventory from our Conservation District plant grower in Bow, WA (the Plant Materials Center) and other native plant sources, based on sales from previous years. The plants are harvested in late winter (while dormant) and delivered to us the last week in February.

During the pre-sale period, as an order is purchased, it is reserved from our inventory. If we run out of a species, we try to increase our order accordingly, but often local growers have pre-sold all of their stock. This is why we encourage our customers to order early – you’re more likely to get everything you want.  Plus, if we do run out early, we have a better chance of finding more inventory.  There is also always the chance that an unexpected weather event can cause a particular crop to fail. In that case, we do our best to track down replacements or offer suitable substitutes.

Our pre-order typically ends between end of December or January each year, and we spend February finalizing orders, confirming our inventory, and preparing for the arrival of our plants. In a whirlwind of activity over the course of 2-3 days just before the pickup date, our intrepid volunteers help us bundle the plants into the pre-orders for pickup. There is the possibility that unsold inventory will be available for sale on the Saturday pickup date. So, support your local conservation district, and place your plant order early. Go native plants!


Did you miss this year's Native Plant Sale? Check out other Conservation District Plant Sales.
Many of Washington State's Conservation Districts host their own Native Plant Sales, and each sale timeframe, structure, and plant offerings are unique to each District. In case you missed our sale this year, we encourage you to check the links below and see if one of our neighboring Conservation Districts is still accepting plant orders for their Native Plant Sale.
  • Skagit Conservation District (Mt. Vernon)
  • Jefferson County Conservation District (Pt. Townsend)
  • Snohomish Conservation District (Lake Stevens)
  • King Conservation District (Renton)
  • Whatcom Conservation District (Lynden)​
Whidbey Island also has an abundant amount of local nurseries that often will special order native plants at customer requests. A quick online search of "Whidbey Island Nurseries" or a look in the Nurseries section of the phone book will reveal many businesses that you can call and ask about their current native plant selection to help meet your native plant needs.

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DID YOU PURCHASE MADRONES AT OUR PLANT SALE IN THE PAST?
HERE ARE SOME PLANTING AND CARE TIPS:

If you are planting one of these beauties in your garden, you must provide a well-drained spot to prevent root rot! Superb as a single tree or in drifts, Madrones do best in a south or west exposure, well drained. Do not over-water or fertilize.  Salal (Gaultheria shallon) does nicely below Madrone.  Mainly disease resistant, the Madrone is sometimes afflicted with root rot, fungi or soot cankers. Although it prefers some sun, it seems not to mind some partial shade.

   Poor, even rocky soil is fine, especially a bit on the acid side. Stake your young tree with plastic ties to give it a little extra support until it's well rooted. Some leaves will die in January - February but most will remain and soon new buds appear! As with all plants, keep your Madrone well groomed. Remove any sick leaves or branches with sanitized cutters. As particular as it can be to establish, once it settles down to grow it will withstand high temperatures and drought to wet freezing conditions. Besides visual impact, this tree will add more value to your property than any other native.

native plant resources
Native plants provide a landowner with countless possibilities for infusing conservation into their backyards. Whether you have a wetland, a shoreline, a forest, or a lot in town, you'll want to browse and click on the publications listed below.

Getting Started with PNW Native Plants
  • WICD Annual Plant Sale
  • ​Western Washington Native Plants
  • ​WICD's Native Plant Book List​
  • Edible Native Plant Book List
  • ​Rules for Foraging on Public Lands (2016)
  • Right Plant, Right Place
  • ​​​Island County Plant Lists
  • ​​​Example Local Native Plant Fact Cards
  • Washington Native Plant Society
  • ​WSU Master Gardener HortSense
  • ​WSU Island County Master Gardeners
  • ​​​WSU Extension Native Plant Landscaping
  • ​Sound Native Plants Fact Sheets
  • Grow Native: Native Plant Database

Step-by-Step Guides for Native Plants
  • Northwest Native Plant Guide
  • ​Conservation Landscaping
  • ​​​​Plants to Enhance Land & Sea
  • ​Landscaping in the Pacific Northwest
  • Understanding Native Plants by Height
  • ​Gardening with Purpose
  • ​5 Steps to Natural Yard Care

Planting "How-To"
  • Bare Root Planting Guide​​

Irrigation & Watering
  • Drip Irrigation: The Basics

Mulching Tips
  • Mulch Basics
  • ​WSU Guide to Mulches

Alternative Pest Management
  • Alt Pest Mgmt for Lawn & Garden

Microclimates
  • Understanding Microclimates in Your Yard
  • Garden Microclimate Site Evaluation

Native Plant Propagation
  • Cutting Propagation Methods PNW
  • ​Live Stakes
​
Native Plant Salvage
  • Salvage Tips from Sound Native Plants

Pollinators
  • Promoting Pollinators
  • ​Pollinator Plants: Maritime NW Region
  • ​Native Plants that Attract Bees
  • ​4 Principles to Help Bees & Butterflies
  • Pollinator Conservation: PNW
  • ​Hedgerow Planting for Pollinators

Birds & Wildlife
  • Planting for Birds
  • ​Audubon - Why Native Plants Matter
  • ​Bird Friendly Winter Gardens
  • Whidbey Audubon Society
  • Living with Wildlife
  • ​Landscape design for wildlife
  • ​​Attracting Wildlife​
  • Deer-resistant plants list ​

Soil Stabilization & Erosion Control
(see also our Water Management page)
  • Native Plants for Soil Stabilization
  • ​Role of Vegetation in Slope Stability
  • ​​Erosion Control Fabric
  • ​Trees & Shrubs for Erosion Control OSU

Rain Gardens
(see also our Water Management page)
  • Native Plants for Rain Gardens
  • ​Rain Garden Handbook Western WA
  • ​WSU Rain Garden Basics
  • ​Rain Garden Poster

Wet Sites, Wetlands & Riparian Areas
(see also our ​Water Management page)
  • Wet Site Planting List
  • Wetland Planting List
  • ​​Homeowners Guide to Wetlands & Buffers
  • ​At Home with Wetlands
  • Wetland Stewardship
  • ​​Planting & Caring for Trees & Shrubs in Home Wetlands
  • ​WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
  • ​Common Emergent Plant Species
  • More Emergent Plant Species
  • ​Ponds & Aquariums Plant List
  • ​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control

Fire-Resistant 
(see also our Firewise page)
  • ​Fire Resistant Plants - small
  • ​Fire Resistant Plants - large

Drought Tolerant 
  • Drought Tolerant Landscaping in WA
  • Water Wise Gardening

Washington Glacial Outwash Prairies
  • Prairie Landowner Guide for Western WA

Shorelines & Bluffs
(see also our Water Management page)
  • WSU Shore Stewards Guide to Shoreline Living​
  • Native Plants for Marine Waterfronts
  • Salt-Spray Tolerant Landscaping​
  • Marine Shoreline Plant Species
  • ​Marine Planting List
  • Your Marine Waterfront
  • Vegetation Management for Bluffs

Septic Drainfield Landscaping
  • ​​Landscaping Septic Drain Fields: Do's and Don'ts for Planting
  • Properly Landscape a Drainfield
  • ​Shore Stewards Drainfield Landscape
  • Landscaping a Drainfield
  • Landscaping Over Septic Drainfields
  • ​List of Plants with Shallow Roots
​
​Screens & Hedges
  • WSU Selecting for Screens
  • ​Planting an Edible Hedge
  • ​Windbreaks & Snowfences
  • ​​How About a Hedgerow?
  • Benefits of Hedgerows
  • How to Build a Hedgerow
  • ​Hedgerows: More Than Just a Living Fence
  • Hedgerow Planting for Pollinators

​​Lawn Alternatives
  • ​A Complete List of Lawn Alternatives
  • ​Groundcovers vs. Lawns
  • Turf Alternatives
interested in volunteering?
In addition to our need each year for 60 volunteers to help pack and prepare plant orders for our Annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale, Whidbey Island Conservation District staff can also work with you to find the right project fit based on our current needs and your skill set. With such a modest sized staff, we are always in need of extra help at the office and often have some fun and interesting projects we could use volunteer assistance on. Please give us a call at (888) 678-4922 or fill out the form here to let us know you're interested in talking about "Volunteering" projects that fit your skill set and interests and we'll get back in touch with you. Better yet, subscribe to our Volunteer Email List by clicking here and you'll be one of the first to receive notice when we do an all-call for volunteers in January for Plant Sale.

Note: If you have been a volunteer with WICD in the past and receive notice from us via email about volunteer opportunities, then there is no need to re-fill out the form, as we have you in our system and will notify you when opportunities for volunteering are available. Thank you!
Next Board Meeting:
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
9am - 12pm

This board meeting will be held online - Zoom. Please contact us if you'd like to attend and we will send you the remote meeting information.

Board Monthly Meeting Details:
  • See this year's list of upcoming and past board meeting dates - coming soon!
  • Board meetings are held online via Zoom
  • Board meetings are open to the public
  • Past meeting minutes & agendas can be found here.
Connect with Us
  • ​Instagram: @NativePlants_Everywhere 
  • Facebook: @WhidbeyIslandConservationDistrict
  • YouTube: https://bit.ly/3slCXRS
  • ​Subscribe to WICD's email list below:​
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE:
-Native Plant Sale
-QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
-EVENTS & VOLUNTEERING
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8am- 4:30pm

Our office is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19 health precautions.
(mailing) PO Box 490
(office location) 1 NE 4th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239

360-678-4708
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  • Home
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  • Our Services
    • Farm & Ag Assistance >
      • Horsekeeping
      • Beginning Farmer Resources
    • Agricultural Community
    • Forest Stewardship
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      • Island County Stormwater NTA
    • Backyards & Habitat >
      • Pollinator Pal Pledge
    • Native Plants
  • News & Events
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    • Videos
    • Weed Bulletin
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